mcconnell



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. McGONNELL.

TURBINE.

Patented Sept. 21 1886.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT ()FFICE;

J AOOB MOOON N ELL, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

TURBINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,510, dated September 21, 1886. Application filed March 23, 1 885. Serial No. 159,!71. (No model.) Patented in England Augu'st 11, 1884, No. 11,149.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AOOB MOOONNELL, lately residing at Ballymena, in the county of Antrim, Ireland, and now residing in Liverpool, England, and a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain Improvements in Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a certain combination of recessed blades in the casing of a turbine wheel with hinged valves lying within the recesses of the blades, and with counterbalancing devices for said valves, tending to close the valves against the pressure of the water, the object of this improved construction being to automatically regulate the admission of water to the wheel,'and thus govern the velocity of rotation of said wheel and the power developed.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a sectional plan, of the improved turbine. Fig. 3 is a plan View illustrating a modified form of counterbalancing device for the valves.

The improved turbine consists of a central rotating wheel, A, carried on a vertical shaft, B, by means of a disk, B, and formed with curved blades 0, arranged as is usual in turblues in which the water enters at the outside bf the wheel and passes out by the center; and this wheel is fitted within an annular guidecase, 0, provided with stationary guide-blades c, which direct the inflowing water against the blades to of the wheel. The stationary guideblades are fitted with movable blades or valves d, which, when open, lie in recesses formed in the fixed blades 0, and which oscillate on vertical pins (1, passing up through the guidecase 0. The center pins, (1, carrying the oscillating valves (1, are each fitted with an arm, 6, projecting out radially on the top of the casing Oto a ring, E, to which they are all connected, and this ring is fitted and, guided on rollers f, so that it may oscillate freely in unison with the movement of the valves (2. One of the center pins, d, of the valves is carried up in the form of a vertical spindle, d", to the end of which is fitted a bevel-wheel or segment, G, gearing into a wheel, H, on a horizontal shaft, I, on which is fitted a disk or crank, J, fitted with an adjustable pin, j, from which a weight, K, is suspended by a cord or chain, L. ment is, that the weight K, by acting through the gearing described, may always tend to keep the valves cl closed in the guide-case 0 against the pressure of the water, the weight or theeccentricity of the pinto which it is suspended being adjusted to regulate the pressure tending to close the valves. \Vhen the pressure of the water is sufficiently great and the counterbalancing weight K, tending to close the valves (1, is properly adjusted, the water will open the valves fully while the full power is developed by the turbine. Vhen part of the load is taken off the turbine, the wheel will commence to rotate at a higher speed, and the centrifugal action on the water within the wheel A will react on the inflowing water and reduce the inward pressure, so that the valves (1 will at once be partially closed by the counterbalancing-weight arrangement, and the supply of water will be diminished until the initial velocity of the wheel is again attained. In like manner, if the velocity of the wheel is momentarily reduced, the valves will open to a greater extent, by reason of the increased pressure of the inflowing water.

The same results will be obtained by substituting a spring or springs, or like devices,.

to act on the ring E, whose oscillation opens or closes the valves, suitable means being provided for adjusting the power of the springs.

In Fig. 3, for instance, I have illustrated'a construction of spring-counterbalance which may be used for the valves in placeof the weights and gearing above referred to. In this modification the arms J, pivoted to the casing of the turbine, are connected to the ring E, and springs K are adjustably connected at one end, j, to the said arms J, and at the other end are adj ustably connected at z to brackets I on the casing.

The inner or discharge ends of the curved? blades, or of the alternate blades to of the wheel .A, are increased in depth by being expanded both downward and upward at a, where the water finds its outlet, the object being to allow the water to discharge freely both upward and downward on opposite sides of the central disk, B. Near the upper end of the central The object of this arrange.

discharge-opening, a, in the wheel a large disk, M, is fitted on the central shaft, 13, and,

is made adjustable vertically by a sliding bush and collar, m, so that it may be fitted to close to a greater or less extent the discharge-outlet from the wheel. The object of this arrangement is, that the outlet may be regulated according to the available supply of water.

The guide-case G is fitted within a close casing, D, to which the water is admitted by an inlet pipe or opening, D, and a central discharge-opening, D is provided both in the top and bottom of the casing D, the water passing through the upper outlet being led over a stationary shelf above the rotating wheel A.

\Vhat I claim is XVitnesses:

W'LLLIAM PIERCE, W. J. Sums. 

